Saturday, February 27, 2010

In February of 1945, the City of Manila was completely destroyed in a battle between the United States Armed Forces and the Japanese Imperial Army. An estimated 120,000 people were lost and our beloved City of Manila was never the same again.

This February 27th, To mark the 65th Anniversary of the Battle of Manila,Intramuros Administration and Carlos Celdran, will present the 2nd TRANSITIO MANILA 1945. This art event hopes to become an annual commemoration/memorial where we as Manilenos may reflect upon the passing of this event in our history. The evening will start with a sunset fundraiser tour of Intramuros at 6:30. Art installations and performances will follow at the Fort Santiago at 8:30pm. The evening will be highlighted by the release of spirit balloons by the gates of Fort Santiago. A reasonably priced buffet and refreshment will be available. Picnic baskets are allowed.

EVENINGS ACTIVITIES AND COSTS:

TOUR6:30PMI will be holding a SPECIAL sunset tour of Intramuros. It will be a bigger show than the usual. The tour will be followed by a special party at Fort Santiago. Ticket holders to the tour will enter the party/picnic for free and recieve a free glass of VUQO. Tour starts at 6:30PM - Please arrive earlier than that. Tour ends at 8:30PMPhp1,000.00.

Assembly point is Plaza Roma in front of Manila Cathedral.Proceeds will go towards the procurement of scooter bikes for the Intramuros Kabayan Security Force (An NGO).

Hope to see you there!

MANILA TRANSITIO 1945 ART EVENT8:30PMGates open by 7:30PMThe evening will start with music by Junjie Lerma, Caliph8, and P.G. in the gardens fronting the moat. It will be followed by Flamenco music and dance by Yerbaguena Centro Flamenco.

The evening will be highlighted by the release of spirit balloons at the gates of Fort Santiago (video above).

The evening will be capped by readings about the Liberation of Manila curated by Mabi David. Works will be read by Oliver Ortega, Erwin Lareza, Lawrence Bernabe, and Mesandel Virtusio Arguelles. There will also be a collaborative performance by Donna Miranda and Angelo Suarez.

Around the Fort Santiago grounds and Intramuros will be an exhibition of art installations by Denis Lagdameo, Reg Yuson, Tad Ermitano & Team Manila. Current artists in residence at the Living Room Vince Galvez and Alex Felipe of Kapisanan Toronto will also present a video work specially made for the evening.

Feel free to pack your own picnic basket and set up a blanket in the grass to watch the performances. A reasonably priced buffet (Php450.00) by Ilustrado Restaurant will be available for those who do not bring their own food.

Vuqo Vodka will be available free of charge and wines from PREMIER wines and spirits will be for sale.

Friday, February 26, 2010

I THINK I'M IN LOVE WITH SECRETARY ESPY CABRAL! So let's all march to show how much we love the fact that she loves giving condoms & birth control pills to those who want and need them.

RH COMMUNITY STEPS UP SUPPORT for HIV and AIDS AWARENESS CAMPAIGN

Contact Person: Ms. Vigie Benosa-Llorin

Mobile No. 0918-2936786

More than 300 representatives from community women organizations, people living with HIV and AIDS, non-government and civil society organizations will gather in a symbolic rally to support the HIV and AIDS awareness efforts of the Department of Health and protest the interventions of some Catholic leaders on the said campaign.

A short program will be conducted from 10:30 AM to 12:30 NN to present the benefits of HIV and AIDS public awareness campaign on the health of the Filipino people vis-à-vis the pressures coming from some leaders of the Catholic church and Office of the President.

Participants will distribute condoms and carry streamers, banners and placards to show their support for DOH Secretary Cabral’s program to halt the spread of HIV and AIDS disease. They will also challenge the presidential candidates’ to adopt HIV/AIDS and reproductive health program.

WHAT:

“Martsa ng Suporta Kay Cabral”

A symbolic Rally of Support to DOH’s HIV and AIDS Campaign

WHEN:

Monday, 1 March 2010

10:00 AM to 1:00 PM

WHERE:

Entrance Gate, Department of Health

San Lazaro Compound, San Lazaro, Manila

DETAILS:

Organized by the Democratic Socialist Women of the Philippines (DSWP), Health Action and Information Network (HAIN), Forum for Family Planning and Development (FORUM), Linangan ng mga Kababaihan (LIKHAAN), Philippine Legislators Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD) and the Philippine NGO Council (PNGOC). The activity aims to show broad and strong support of the reproductive health community to Sec. Cabral and the DOH in their HIV and AIDS public awareness campaign and disappointment over the intervention of some Catholic leaders and government officials on the campaign.

MEDIA COVERAGE IS REQUESTED. RESOURCE PERSONS ARE AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEW. PHOTO OPS AVAILABLE.

For clarifications please call

VIRGINIA BENOSA-LLORIN

Media Advocacy Officer

Philippine Legislators' Committee on Population and Development Foundation, Inc.

Thursday, February 25, 2010

The Intramuros Administration is calling out for donations of bamboo shoots of any variety for the newly inaugurated Bamboo Gardens of Fort Santiago. The garden was planted in memory of the Guerrillas of World War II. We hope that interested parties can donate young bamboos to complete this memorial garden. It's really a good idea. It's a more enlightened option as a memorial than wasting money on some bronze statue, don't you think?

Email celdrantours@hotmail.com if you wish to donate a bamboo seedling to Fort Santiago. Check out more photos of the garden and it's inauguration on my facebook link: CLICK HERE.

Sunday, February 14, 2010

B-B-B-BATANESI'm heading to BATANES tomorrow. Awesome. Never been. And I'm going with my eyes closed and my mind open. I don't even know where I am staying. But who cares, I'm taking a break from the craziness of Manila. Thank you SEAIR for the affordability of this trip.

Apparently - and according to SEAIR: "The Batanes group of islands at the northernmost tip of the Philippines has a distinct landscape unlike any other in the country. During the winter months from December to February, temperatures can go as low as 7 degrees Celsius. The cool temperate weather, combined with green pastures, windmills on rolling hills and lighthouses guarding immaculate shorelines, give visitors a sense of a holiday in the countryside of Europe." Really now? Ows? A few weeks back, someone told me that Batanes is the only Philippine province to have seasons. This I got to check out for myself.

But back to the airline and my shameless plug about them: SEAIR or Southeast Asian Airlines, will be extending their Batanes Winter promo for booking until February 28, 2010. (This is the ticket I'm getting). Going to Batanes ain't as cheap their rates to Boracay, but it's still a good deal for the chance to visit a place as supposedly otherworldly and ethereal as Batanes. Around Php5,800 ish either way. But you'll get a 10% discount if you book it via www.FlySeair.com. This is the promotion which is only good until February 28, 2010. To see current Batanes rates: type ilovebataneswinter09 in the promo code field when you use the FLIGHT SEARCH column under the "BOOK NOW" header on www.FlySeair.com

Incidentally and while we were on the topic of Boracay, SEAIR also offers special morning rates of AS LOW AS PhP 1,999.20 per way all-in when you book/travel from February 1, 2010 and onwards. The special rates are available for limited seats for all flights to and from BORACAY before 7 a.m. I know, insanely early, YES. But that's why it's CHEAP! And think about it. More time to spend on Boracay.

So that's it and once again, log onto www.FlySeair.com or call SEAIR reservations at 8490100.

Saturday, February 06, 2010

OK. I said I would not do any negative campaigning against Noynoy, so I won't bring be throwing Hacienda Luisita in his face today. But when I see political ads like this, which seem to be going the wrong direction, I just have to speak up and offer my constructive criticism. Noy, or whoever it is that is behind you telling you to make these ads, I recommend that you cease and desist immediately and try a new angle. It not only comes across as sad, but it also seems a bit, I don't know, condescending? Why don't you try telling folks how great we can be instead of how horrible things are. Seriously, you are hitting all the wrong notes with ads like this. And also, hitting all the wrong people.

FROM E.M. on Facebook:Exxxxxxx Mxxxxxx the latest TV Ads of Noynoy is an insult to us public health workers because "bulok health centers and government hospitals" are merely structures and do not speak of competence and dedication of public health workers. Like him we in Public Health are public servants as well, we are all accountable to the people we serve that we uphold our competence in our professfession. I truly despise what was said in the ads "ng dahil sa corruption pinagtitiyagaan ng tao ang mga bulok na mga health facilities" which also comes across as health services in Health Facilities "ay PINAGTITIYAGAAN din ng mga tao". Sir, let me just remind you even in worst and unfavorable working conditions you find public health workers doing their utmost best, a call of being public servants. Dont lump us as slacking in our jobs because no matter how least compensated we are in the health sector, we are all dedicated and competent public health professionals

"Lost Cities" is a psycho-geographical, mixed-media narrative that explores pre and post apocalyptic urban landscapes and architectural backdrops through imaginary characters named "the sub-colonials" who move, dance, and tread through these past, futurist, and surreal environments. Collaborators in the project, that involves interactive computer-generated sound and video, are Chris Brown (Sound) and Johanna Poethig (Visuals) from Oakland, California; and Tad Ermitaño (Visuals), Caliph8 (Sound) and Malek Lopez (Sound) from Manila.They will present their work-in-progress and discuss its artistic intentions and technical implementation with the audience.

THIS IS A FREE EVENT! Just bring Booze or a snack.Presenting the Oakland-Manila Art Exchange:

Chris Brown, composer, pianist, and electronic musician, creates music for acoustic instruments with interactive electronics, for computer networks, and for improvising ensembles. He teaches electronic music and composition at Mills College in Oakland, where he is Co-Director of the Center for Contemporary Music (CCM).

Tad Ermitaño, media artist, writer and filmmaker. As far as the media art goes, he is interested in algorithmic/procedural editing and composition, new uses for the moving image and have been lately drifting into elementary robotics. His work "Quartet" was exhibited in the recently concluded International Symposium for Electronic Arts (ISEA) in Singapore.

Johanna Poethig, a visual, public and performance artist who has exhibited internationally and has been actively creating public art works, murals, paintings, sculpture and multimedia installations for over 20 years. Her paintings, sculpture and installations reflect her interest in satire, symbol, human nature, society and our consumerist culture. She has produced and participated in performance events that mix feminism, global politics, costume, props, cabaret, experimental music and video.

Malek Lopez, Berklee-trained virtuoso who is the principal composer for the band Drip, and half of the abrasive electronica duo Rubber Inc, who are responsible for establishing electronica in Manila. He is also a well-noted film composer.

Caliph8, beat smith, graffiti bomber and soothsayer. A lynch-pin of various groups and ensembles, he's probably the most sought after sound manipulator in the Philippines. His output extends to more than just sniffing aerosol paint and flexing wrists with fat markers–he also creates visuals and projects them while manipulating audio and creates sound collage.

Wednesday, February 03, 2010

DO SOME LIGHT READING...Lighthouses have long played an important part in stirring the imagination of people. They are silent monuments that have become a point of interest to artists, poets and storytellers.

Over 50 brick lighthouses were built in the Philippines by the Spaniards in the 1800's. The Faro de Malabrigo is one of the 24 we have left of these colonial lighthouses. It is an irreplaceable heritage treasure that is in danger. It continues to fend off rain, wind and vandals.

The significant point to all who turn the pages of this book is to think of the future of our remaining century old lighthouses before we lose them. All signs indicate their days are numbered.

56 photographs by the country's best photographers pay homage to a century old Philippine lighthouse and to the people who continue to make her a part of their lives.

Monday, February 01, 2010

“Mrs. B” is a one-act play written by award-winning playwright Joi Barrios together with Rowena Festin and Grundy Constantino of the Concerned Artists of the Philippines (CAP). Conceptualized and directed by Soc Jose (of the TV series Darna), the play reveals the gamut of emotions Mrs. Edita Burgos has been going through in search of her missing son, Jonas. The play seeks to increase public awareness on the issue of enforced disappearances as well as raise funds to assist families of the missing in their quest for justice.

The monologue will be restaging in February 2010 at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani Auditorium in Quezon City. Veteran actresses/directors Gina Alajar and Bibeth Oreza will alternately play the role of Mrs. Edita Burgos in ten shows, including a Critics’ Night and a Media Night. A total of 1,000 tickets for the show will be sold to students and the general public. Proceeds of the play will be for the benefit of the Free Jonas Burgos Movement and Desaparecidos.